Xbox Fitness : Kinect´s Killer App? free to Gold Members 1st year!

[Stefan.De.Machtige]

Adinnieken said:

Veknoid_Outcast said:
Sounds like a cool application, but I take issue with some of the arguments in the article. First, there's no mention at all of the Wii Fit series, the success of which clearly inspired this application, even if it has different bells and whistles. Second, the notion that this application is more important than the launch window line-up is misguided, in my opinion. I don't think consumers are going to purchase a $500 Xbox One and pay yearly subscriptions to get access to a fitness application, famous workout gurus notwithstanding, when they could choose a number of less expensive alternatives: get a gym membership, download some fitness videos, or, if they're intent on "gamifying" fitness, buy a Wii U and Wii Fit U. This last option would be particularly useful and cost-effective to the over 20 million people who already invested in Wii Fit Plus. For $20 they can upgrade to Wii Fit U (with "Fit Meter") and transfer all data from Wii Fit Plus over to Wii Fit U.

Is this a nice application and extra selling point for fitness fans who have zero interest in Wii U and lots of interest in Microsoft exclusives? Yes. But I don't see this as any type of killer app, especially considering the high cost of entry for the Xbox One.

I will disagree.

In the US alone, fitness is over a $100 billion dollar a year industry with the average US consumer contributing $150 per year toward fitness equipment alone but even that doesn't quite express just how much people are willing to spend on fitness.  Most people who purchase some type of cardio equipment spend anywhere from $900 to $3500 on a single item alone.  For strength/muscle building equipment, US consumers pay anywhere from $10 to $400 for sets (a pair of weights to a complete set).  That's just to get started and it doesn't include things like books which are a $500+ million dollar a year business.

Now a lot of gyms offer both equipment and cardio programs, so likely a better alternative most would say.  The average price of a gym membership is $55 per month.  Yearly, that figures in around $660.  There will still be equipment you buy, like workout gear and mats, etc, so even that price will be slightly higher.

A 90-day cardio program like P90X cost over $300.  A gym membership, $660.  If we go with averages on equipment, $150.  Grand total, $1,110.  And those prices don't include transportation. 

So for $500 + the cost of Xbox LIVE for 1 year, you're talking $560.  Whether you're a man or a woman, whether your serious or non-committal, you pay the same.  So for the persons who don't get into fitness programs, but want to try something this is a very inexpensive alternative.  Now, realistically, you're still going to get equipment.  For some of the exercises used in Xbox Fitness, you'll need dumbbells and you'll likely want a mat.  Mats and dumbbells sets are cheap. 

As for Wii Fit, the general concensous is it's beneficial for older adults to get them moving, but if what you want is to build strength or endurance than Wii Fit does neither.  Walking actually offers about the same calorie burning as Wii Fit's most challenging exercise options. 

That's the reason Wii fit sellls - it's a combination of light entertainment, exercise and price.

It's rather difficult to sell an expensive entertainment device as an intensive cardio program.